High Triglyceride
Triglycerides are vital to various cells functions and determine the amount of reserve energy that our body can offer. Triglycerides come from food and are also produced by the body. High blood triglyceride (hypertriglyceridemia) is a lipid disorder. High triglyceride levels are usually accompanied by high total blood cholesterol levels. Blood triglyceride levels are indicative of a person's susceptibility to various diseases such as hypertension, heart attack, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. High levels of triglycerides increase the risk of diabetes and pancreatitis. Blood triglyceride levels of around 150 200 mg/dL are considered normal. While high triglyceride levels are those above 200 mg/dL, those having triglyceride levels greater than 499 mg/dL are at high risk. High triglyceride levels also put a person at increased risk of thrombosis.
Blood triglyceride levels are measured with a blood test after abstaining from food for 12 hours and alcohol for 72 hours before testing. Drugs such as fibrates are often prescribed to reduce elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol.
Tips to lower triglyceride:
- Losing excess weight
- Regular exercise regimen
- Reducing caloric intake especially fatty foods
- Restricting alcohol intake
Hyperlipoproteinemia
Too much of lipid and/or lipoproteins in the blood can lead to hyperlipoproteinemia. Hyperlipoproteinemia is also known as hyperlipemia or hyperlipidemia and is a metabolic disorder. This disease remains silent for years together; only when the person suffers any heart ailment does this condition come to light. Heredity and diet play a major role in the onset of this disease; hereditary blood fat disorders are the main cause for hyperlipoproteinemia.
Other common conditions that can cause this condition are diabetes, liver and kidney disease, hypothyroidism, alcohol and cigarette smoking. Few medications like progesterone, beta blockers, etc also increase the fat level in the bloodstream. If left unattended or untreated hyperlipoproteinemia can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This condition is common in adults rather than in children and can occur both in men and women. Depending on the excessive chemical found in the blood stream, hyperlipoproteinemia can be classified into five types:
Type I – Elevation of triglycerides
Type II – Elevated cholesterol and in few cases elevated triglycerides
Type III – Elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels with subsequent vascular diseases
Type IV – Elevated triglycerides alone but no risk of vascular diseases
Type V – Similar to type I
No specific symptoms are shown for hyperlipoproteinemia. In very rare cases when the fat level in the blood shoots up too high, fat gets deposited in the form of bumps in the skin and tendons, this is referred to as xanthomas. In few cases, the liver and spleen enlarge when the triglycerides level shoot up too high. This leads to pancreatitis causing severe abdominal pain. The diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia can be made by measuring the triglycerides, total cholesterol, lipid profile, LDL and the HDL levels in the blood.
- Patients should consume a healthy low-fat or fat-free diet. They should avoid saturated fat and polyunsaturated fat.
- Monounsaturated fat like olive oil is recommended and is the healthiest option.
- Medications are also prescribed to bring down the LDL, HDL levels and the cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Doctors would advice the person to lose weight if obese.
- Physical activity is also be recommended.
- Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables should be consumed.
- Food items like oatmeal, oat bran, rice bran, citrus fruits, rice bran, strawberries, apple pulp, beans and peas should be consumed.
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia is an excess of fatty substances called lipids, which largely consists of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Also known as hyperlipoproteinernia, due to the fatty substances that travel in the blood, this is perhaps the only way fatty substances can remain dissolved while in circulation. Secondary causes of hypercholesterolemia include hypothyroidism, pregnancy, and kidney failure. Hyperlipidemia, along with diabetes is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Medications most commonly used to treat high LDL cholesterol levels are statins or simyastatin. These work by reducing the production of cholesterol within the body.
Bibliography / Reference
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